I hate Christmas. Who's with me?

System

I fear the extra clutter
Only eczemas presents that don't take up physical space please

gayleygoo

I've disliked Christmas (or as i call it, Consumerism Fest) for a few years now. Since having children, it has been a source of anxiety for 2 months of the year. Who the heck told them about Santa anyway?! So much stuff (our kids get a lot from the rest of our family) to find space for, as well as all the gifts to buy for others. We try not to spend much, but it's more of a challenge that way.

I don't even like calling it Christmas. If I actually believed in any sort of god, I'd probably be offended at the crazy materialistic mess it now is. So I make peace as best I can, call it the Winter Festival and we have our feast day on the Winter solstice so I don't have to cook on what is already a stressful day. I try to enjoy it as I'm sure I'll miss it when the children are grown and we don't have to do it anymore!

Shooting~Star*

I usually love Christmas, I love putting the all the decorations up and making the house look nice and pretty and I usually love almost everything that goes along with Christmas. This year however, I wouldn't mind if I slept through the whole of December, I really can't be bothered at all with Christmas. I'm not even looking forward to putting all my decorations up, in fact I might not even bother doing that. I might put a little tree up in my bedroom but that might be about it for this year, I really can't be bothered at all.

BigAunty

I go to the Canary Islands each Xmas and New Year. It's my main holiday. It's usually dry and sunny, around 19-23 degrees, and slightly chilly at night (need a fleece).

The resorts have the odd Xmas tree and lights up, Santa visits the hotels to drop off presents to children but there's not the trashy commercial consumerist orgy of the UK.

With my beloved, I spend my days walking along the promenade, have coffee out, catch up on my reading, meditate, excursions to beauty spots, watch my fave DVDs, swim in the sea.

I don't really spend much on xmas presents either and all presents are bought in Nov as I then avoid the shops. For my folks and siblings, they get a decent bottle of booze. For nieces and nephews, they get around £30 each spent on them. My beloved has asked for a pair of pyjamas and a DVD for xmas.

So I basically spend Xmas and New Year having a summer holiday....

BigAunty

I think if I couldn't afford a holiday abroad for Xmas and New Years, I might volunteer to work for a homeless charity or similar over xmas.

Otherwise I might just host a small xmas dinner for friends at home and play old fashioned games like cards or charades. On the few occasions I've been home in the New year, I attend a friend's DVD night where we all pitch in and bring a course of food each to share and watch a 'guilty pleasure' DVD like Showgirls - fab times.

Another alternative I've considered as I live within a few hours drive of the Highlands is hiring a hikers hut, lodge, wigwam or similar which generally cost around £50 a night. They are heated and some come with outdoor fire pits and basic cooking facilities.

If I were single, I'd probably go on a retreat, a meditation course or similar. There are lots of centres that host retreats in this period and I noticed that the xmas/new year ones are popular. Re-charge the spirit.

Petra_70

MatthewAinsworth wrote: »

I fear the extra clutter
Only eczemas presents that don't take up physical space please

:huh: .......

FreeBear

pickledonionspaceraider wrote: »

Am I the only person who doesn't actually like Christmas?

A depressing and tiresome ritual isn't it.

Between now and the end of the year, I am expected to be "nice" to the people around me when all I really want to do is scream at them.

Person_one

FreeBear wrote: »

A depressing and tiresome ritual isn't it.

Between now and the end of the year, I am expected to be "nice" to the people around me when all I really want to do is scream at them.

I think you're expected to be nice to people and not scream at them all year round...

Pollycat

skipton wrote: »

I hate shopping in the run upto Christmas - people are like lemmings, food shopping as if the shops are never to open again!

I hate pubs in the run-up to Christmas.

Full of people who've clearly never been in one before in their life, shouting & screaming, staggering about, stepping on your feet, spilling their drink down your back, vomiting in the toilets (that's if they can manage to get that far).

You only see them for a few weeks.
I don't know where they go to for the rest of the year but I wish they'd !!!!!! off back. :cool:

jackieblack

yvonne13 wrote: »

I don't hate Christmas I just don't like thought of people being on their own

Some people are quite happy being on their own.
Being pressured into 'joining in' when you don't want to is far worse.